Fire-exit lock



Nov. 22, 1955 F. J. McCoNNELL FIRE-EXIT LOCK Filed sept. 21, 195o 2Sheets-Sheet l FIG. I.

FIG. 2.

Gttotnegs F. J. MCCONNELL FIRE-EXIT LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Gtornegs Nov.22, 1955 Filed sept. 21 195o FIG. 4.

Vll U Aly United States Patent Clitice 2,724,258 Patented Nov. 22, 1955FIRE-EXIT LOCK Frankl. McConnell, New Britain, Conn., assigner to TheAmerican Hardware Corporation, New Britain, Conn., a corporation ofConnecticut Application September 21, 1950, Serial No. 185,953 `9claims. (ci. 711-149) My invention relates to safety locks and inparticular to so-called tire-exit locks.

In tire-exit locks, as used on doors in schools and in other publicbuildings, safety requires that the insideoperated manual actuatingmeans for the lock shall always be directly associated `with the boltretratcor, `so that, regardless ot' the locked or unlocked condition ofthe mechanism, the door may always be opened from the inside. In suchlocks, it is customary to provide a keyoperated means on the outside for`retracting the bolt independently of the inside-operated means; also,outside n manual-operating `means may be provided. When the `door is tobe locked so as to bar entrance, it has been customary to dog theoutside manual-operating means, but it has been a juvenile practice toattempt a manual actuation of the lock from the outside, even though thesame is quite obviously dogged. Under certain circumstances, a repeatedjuggling of the outside manually actuated member may retract the boltsufficiently to permit entry. Whether or not entry is achieved, suchtampering may cause damage to the outside manually actuated member.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide an improvedlock construction of the character indicated. It is another object toprovide an improved lock mechanism, which will not be subject to damageupon tampering `from the outside.

n It is a `further object to provide such a lock mechanism wherein keyoperation from the outside is the only means whereby entrance ispossible when the mechanism is otherwise locked.

It is a specific object to `provide a means `for selectively disablingthe outside manual-operating means of a re-exit lock of the characterindicated.

It is a general object to meet the above objects with a relativelysimple construction involving as little change as possible from existingarrangements.

Other objects and `various further features will be n pointed out orwill become apparent to those skilled in the Fig. l, as seen from theback side, and with the coverplate and certain other parts removed;

Fig. 4 is a` sectional view, taken substantially in the plane 4 4 ofFig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with the parts shown in a differentrelationship.

Briey stated, my invention contemplates a lock mecha` nism including aboltand means for retracting the same.

The retraction means may include a plurality of parts to A cooperate indriving one another when retracting the bolt. When it is desired thatsuch retraction shall not be possible, as for example when itis desiredthat the lock shall not be manually actuated from the outside, then mymechanism makes possible the dislocation or removal of one of the partsin the retraction mechanism so that there is no longer the necessarycooperation between parts, and a manual actuation from the outsideresults in purely wasted motion, having no driving relationship with thebolt.

In the form to be described, the removable member is a pivoted leverhaving an enlarged end to be removably interposed between an outsidedriven member and some part directly related with the bolt. When thusinterposed, a direct driving relationship is established between theoutside actuating member and the bolt; but when the lever is cranked toits other position, the enlarged end thereof is no longer thusinterposed, and outside actuation results merely in wasted motioninvolving no displacement of the bolt.

Referring to the drawings, my invention is shown in application to aso-called iire-exit lock, which may be mounted on the inside of a door10. The lock may comprise a lock case 11 and a bracket 12, each formedwith ears 13-14 carrying aligned pivot means 15-16 for a push-bar 17pivoted thereon. Inside the lock case 11, the push-bar 17 may include adriving arm 13 (Fig. 3) for operating suitable retractor mechanism forthe latch-bolt 19. The bolt 19 may be of the so-called Pullman type andpivoted inside the case 11, as on stulds 20. The retraction mechanismfor the bolt 19 may include a tail member 21 connected to the bolt bymeans (not shown) and having an enlarged end 22 to be limited byabutment lugs 23, which may be formed in or carried by the case 11.Spring means 24 coiled in compression about the tail 21 may normallyurge the bolt 19 to an outwardly extending position, as shown in thedrawings. A washer 25 may receive spring thrust and directly abut thelugs 23.

Normal push-bar retraction of the bolt may be effected through twocooperating cranks or levers 26-27, both of which may be pivoted in thecasing 11, as on a common pin 28. The crank member 26 may include aportion to receive the thrust of the push-bar lug 1S, and a drivingprojection 29 may strike the lug abutment 30 on the other crank member27 in a retraction of the bolt. A torsion spring 31 may be coiled aboutthe boss for one of the levers 26-27 and abut a lug 32 on the crankmember 26 so as to urge the same at all times resiliently against thedriving arm 18 of the push-bar 17. A stop member 33 may be carried bythe casing 11 and threaded therein for adjustment to intercept arm 18and thus to limit normal outward displacement of the push-bar 17; and,if it should be desired that the bolt 19 shall be retained in aretracted position, then the threaded stop member 33 may be advancedfully into the casing so as to drive the push-bar arm 1S against crankmembers 26-27 in a retained retraction of the bolt 19.

vAs indicated generally above, my lock mechanism may include outsidekeyoperated means such as a cylinder lock 35 to be actuated by a key 36for retracting bolt 19, as well as outside manual-actuating means, suchas a finger or thumb-piece 37. The linger-piece 37 may form part of theconventional outside trim, including a pull handle 38,

In accordance with the invention, both the outside keyoperated means 35and the outside manually operated means 37 are independently anddirectly related to the retracting means for the bolt 19, and theserelationships are also independent of the described push-bar retractionof the holt 19. Also in accordance with the invention, the outsideoperated manual means 37 may be disabled or effectively disconnectedfrom its bolt-retraction -mechanism by means of an inside operation,and, for security against. tampering, the inside.means for .this.purpose may be key-operated; l have shown a cylinder lock 40 and key 41to enable and to disable the outside manually operated-f means .37.

lAsexplained, normal outside key operation, such as avmanipulation of.the key 36,'may be etective directly to-:retractzth'e bolt 19. inythe'form` shown, the lock 35' includes aspindle 42 passing through thedoor 1d and engagingfa suitable socketfin -adrive crank v43. Whenthe-lock-35 vis set, as -when the key is removed, the crank 43i maybeinl the generally horizontalposition shown in FigsfSrand 5. .Howevenuponkeyfoperation, the crank 43 may be moved counterclocktvise in thesense of Figs. 3 and5, and when substantially erect, the crank 43 willengage landdrive one `cnd44 of `a retractor-crank member-45',pivoted1tothe case-1121, as on the pin 46. The otherwend of'thecrank-45-may`directly engageftheenlargementZZ-at the lftailot the `boltmember 21, and it will'be'appreciated that such actuation Ais entirelyindependent'of'push-bar actuationfof the boltl 19.

Asrindicatemhoutside manual'actuation -is achieved by depressing'thethumb or finger-piece `r37. The piece 37 may be pivoted, as at 48, in apart of the escutcheon 49, andVy may include an inwardly projecting end50 (Fig. 4) for engagement with the underside of a lug 51 on averticallysreciprocable slide 52. Theffslide 52 may be guided betweentheback face of the cover-plate 53 for the lock case 11 and an outsideretaining'plate 54 appropriately spaced from the plate 53, as by meansof a boss E35. The slideSZ may be slotted at56 for guided retention bythe boss l55, as will be clear. At its lower end, theslide 52 mayreceive or 'carry a transverse pin 57 connecting the same to a crank oractuatingfmember 58. The pin 57 maypass through the back cover-plate 53,as in a slot 59, so as to permit a full reciprocation of the slide 52.anda cranking of the member 58 about its pivot 6i). Thecrank member 53may additionally include an actuating lug-61 to be used in retractingthe bolt 19 when themechanism has been suitablyy enabled.

As indicated generallyabove, thel enabling mechanism for the outsidemanually actuated means may be keyoperatedfrom the inside, as byrotationof the key 41. ln the .form shown, the plugothe cylinder lock 40carriesa .crank member or roll vbackf62 in suitablefactuating alignmentwith a movable-member'to be shifted into-and out of a position betweenthe actuatingflug 61 and the bolt-retraction mechanism. This movablemember may be a'lever 63, comprising twoarms 64-65 and pivoted on thesame pin 46 as the'lever 45, but otherwise in no way related to themovement of the lever 45. The end of thel arm 64 may be so formed as tobe interposed between the actuating lug 61 and the Ycrank 27'when in arst position (sce Fig. but when in a second position, the said end ofthe crank arm 64 may be out of possible engagement with the actuatinglug 61. The part of lever 63 which is to be selectively interposedbetween lug 61 and crank 27 is preferably of an effective thickness ofsubstantially the full stroke of lug 61; thus7 when in theenablingposition (Fig. 5) substantially a full stroke of lug 61 may betranslated into substantially a full stroke of the bolt 19, but when inthe disabled position (Fig. 3) a full stroke of lug 6.1 results inwasted motion.

Theother arm 65 ofl the lever 63 may .form part of a suitable detentmechanism for holding one-or the other ofV two selected positions oflever-63. The detent mechanism may include a flat-spring 66archcdlbetween spaced corners of a recess 67 in the case 11, and a dimple ornotch 68fin the spring 66 may provide the point about which detentaction takes place. It is preferred that this point be located so thatdetentactionmay be eective when the lever 63 is substantially inthe-described. second position (Fig. 31),; that is, detentretention-ofthe second or disabled position occurspreferably only lwhen the end otarrn .6.4.may .not beengaged-.by the .actuatinglug 61.

The invention may perhaps be better understood from a description ofseveraloperations. If the door is to be locked, the key 41 will beactuated so as to set the lever 63 in the so-called second or disabledposition, as in Fig. 3. Such actuation will call for a clockwiserotation of the key 41 in the sense of Figs. 3 and 5, and the disabledposition will have been selected when the crank 62 engages the arm 65 todrive it to the right side (in the sense of Figs. 3 and 5) of the detentpoint 68. When the mechanism has thus been locked, it will beappreciated that there is no possible manual vactuation ot the bolt bythe thumb piece 37 from the outside. Attempted manual actuation, as bydepressing the thumb or fingerpiece 37 however many times, will onlyresult in idle cranking of the member 58, and, if desired, this actionmay be opposed by a weak spring 69 twined about the hub or boss ofmember 58 and urging the same in the downward or counterclockwisedirection. During such wasted finger actuation, the actuating lug 61will merely move through space, as to the dotted position 61', shown inFig. 3. Since such inger actuation is accompanied by relativelylittleresistance, no damage tothe thumbpiece 37 can Vresult from theusual juvenile tampering with the mechanism. At the same time, itwill beappreciated that the mechanism may be operated from the-outside uponinsertion of the proper key 36, so as to drive the actuating crank 45 ina retraction of the bolt 19; at the same time, unhampered exit ispermitted upon depression of the push-bar 17--both functions beingavailable without changing the locked settingfof crank- 63.

When it is desiredthat manual operationshall be permitted from theoutside, the key -41 may again berplaced in the lock'40, but this timeit shouldbe rotated counterclockwise so as to drive the crank 62 againstthe knee or the lowerarm 64 of lever-63. In this way, the lever 63 maybe actuated counterclockwise soas to place the upper arm 65 to the leftof the detent point 68, withthe enlarged end vof arm 64 interposedbetween the actuating lug61` and the crank 27. The mechanism will thenbe enabled for outside manual actuation by thumb piece 37 and the key 41may be withdrawn and kept separately. With the mechanism thus enabled,actuation of the thumb-piece 37 willserve to drive the actuating lug 61against the lower-end of arm 64, and arm 64 will bear against the upperend of crank 27 in a retraction of the latch-bolt 19. If for any reasonthe mechanism should be damaged when thus set, key operation from theoutside, by way of the key 36, will at all times be possible because ofthe direct connection of lever 45 to the retraction mechanism. Also,free exit'byway of push-bar actuation will be permitted at all times forthe same reason.

It will be appreciated thatl have described a simple and ingenious meansfor improvingk the function of' lock mechanisms, such as tire-exitlocks. Not only may the functioning be improved, but the mechanism maybe rendered less susceptible to malfunctioning in the presence ofjuvenile or other tampering. These results are achieved with aminimumf'ofmodiiication from generally conventional mechanisms.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail andapreferred form illustrated, it is to be understood that various changesand modifications may be made within the scope of the invention asdeiined in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

l. In a door lock of the character indicated, a bolt includingrollback-abutment means, key-operated rollback means movable into andout ofdriving relation with said abutment means, and manually movablemeans in aligned actuating abutment relation with said rollback meanswhen said rollback means is in position for driving relationlwith saidabutment means, said manuallymovable means clearing said rollback meanswhenthe latter is positioned out 'of driving relation with saidvabutment means, said rollback-abutment means including separate andindependent actuating means accessible for manual retracting actuationof said bolt at all times and regardless of the actuation of saidmanually movable means.

2. A door lock according to claim 1, and including inside accessiblescrew means selectively positionable in clogging relation with saidrollback means to hold said bolt in open position.

3. ln a door lock of the character indicated, a bolt includingrollback-abutment means, a first rollback in direct driving relationwith said abutment means and manually actuable from one side of thedoor, a second rollback movable into and out of direct driving relationwith said iirst rollback, separate manually actuable means for actuatingsaid second rollback, whereby said separate manually actuable means mayactuate said bolt, a third rollback in driving relation with said secondrollback only when said second rollback is positioned in drivingrelation with said iirst rollback, and further manually actuable meansfor said third rollback.

4. A door lock according to claim 3, in which said `'separate manuallyactuable means is key-operated.

l 5. A door lock according to" claim 3, and including resilient detentmeans resiliently holding said second rollback when positioned out ofdriving relation with said rst rollback.

6. In a door lock of the character indicated, a bolt including retractormeans therefor, inside-operated means including a rollback at all timesaligned with and free to retract said retractor means upon actuation ofsaid inside-operated means, outside-operated means including anactuating member for said `rollback and having a normal movement ofstroke basically sucient to retract said bolt, said actuating memberbeing out of engagement with said rollback for at least enough of saidstroke, that direct contact of said member with said rollback will beinsuicient to fully retract said bolt, whereby actuation of saidoutside-operated means` alone may be insuicient to retract said bolt,and independently manipulable means `including an enabling membermovable to a rst position between and to a second position clear of thepath of movement of said actuating member and of said rollbackrelatively to each other, said enabling member being of suicient widthwhen in said rst position to permit bolt retraction upon an actuation ofsaid outside-operated means.

7. A lock according to claim 6, in which the eiective width of saidenabling member subtends a distance equivalent substantially to a fullstroke of said actuating member, whereby when in said first position astroke of said actuating member may be effective to retract said bolt.

8. In a door lock of the character indicated, a bolt including retractormeans therefor, resilient means urging said bolt to an outwardlyextended position, insideoperated means including a rollback at alltimes aligned with and free to retract said retractor means uponactuation of said inside-operated means, outside-operated meansincluding an actuating member for said rollback and having a normalmovement of stroke basically suicient to retract said bolt, saidactuating member being out of engagement with said rollback for at leastenough of said stroke, that direct contact of szaid member with saidrollback will be insuliicient to fully retract said bolt, wherebyactuation of said outside-operated means alone may be insufficient toretract said bolt, independently manipulable means including an enablingmember movable to a rst position between and to a second position clearof the path of movement of said actuating member and of said rollbackrelatively to each other, said enabling member being of suflicient widthwhen in said iirst position to permit bolt retraction upon an actuationof said outside-operated means, and inside-operated dogging means inactuating relation with said rollback and dogging said rollback in theactuated position thereof, whereby said bolt may be held in retractedposition.

9. A lock according to claim 8, in which said insideoperated meansincludes a screw in driving relation with said rollback and havingsucient threaded stroke to actuate said rollback.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATE-NTS95,507 Petre Oct. 5, 1869 431,620 Pursel July 8, 1890 464,805 TaylorDec. 8, 1891 1,357,007 Smith Oct. 26, 1920 1,500,168 Voight July 8, 19241,528,515 Taylor Mar. 3, "1925 2,582,924 Dall Jan. 15, 1952 2,603,963Allen July 22, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 157,551 Austria Dec. 11, 1939232,079 Great Britain Apr. 16, 1925

